We work with the young people as they are not as we would like them to be
Many of the young people who come are passionate about their faith, and firmly believe the others would be far better off if only they all converted. We don't make them change those beliefs before they come, we help them see how they can have those beliefs and still become friends with and make peace with the people from the other faith.
We do youth work with two faiths together. We don't do formal dialogue meetings with young people in the room
Why are so many dialogue events so boring and really monologues in disguise? Since when did two people on a stage giving talks to a room full of quiet, polite people count as dialogue? At Faith and Young People events we try to learn from good youth work practice and incorporate it into our events. Consequently the events are very interactive with teamwork games, discussions, presentations, 10 pin bowling etc.
We're into Encounter before dialogue
Getting to know someone else doesn't just involve talking. It might involve working together on a project, eating a meal or just sitting in silence together. We help people encounter each other as people not as theological oddities or competitors.
We give the young people a voice
When adults ask young people to give their opinions, lots of adults can't resist correcting things, or adding their opinion. At Faith and Young People we want to hear what the young people have to say - and hear it from them in their language. This might not always make for comfortable listening. But it's always interesting.